Recent Projects
building the organic workforce
As part of the TOPP Workforce Development initiative, I’m working as instructional design lead within a multi-organization team to build standardized learning for organic inspectors and reviewers—roles that are essential to maintaining the integrity of the organic system. The work starts with a simple question: what already exists, and how can we build from it? By mapping existing resources across the sector and identifying key gaps, we’re designing competency-based learning that is both efficient and coherent—strengthening consistency in roles that the entire system depends on.
Futures-informed Strategic Planning
I partnered with a nonprofit educational organization in the sustainable agriculture sector to support a focused strategic planning process, which included designing and facilitating a Three Horizons workshop with their Board of Directors. Working closely with the Executive Director, I shaped an approach that fit the moment—time-bound and practical, yet responsive to the incredible pressures on the agriculture sector in this moment. The work included stakeholder interviews and trends research to ground the conversation in both current realities and emerging shifts.
Through a culminating interactive and dynamic workshop, the board discussed how to be responsive to the ever-changing external environment and we aligned on key priority areas for immediate action.
The Modern Salon: Curated Conversations That Matter
I design and host curated discussion salons—often women-centered, retreat-style experiences—focused on exploring complex, deeply human themes like belonging, social change, and death and dying. These are intentionally crafted spaces, with thoughtful agendas, curated readings and podcasts, and structured time for reflection and dialogue. This work reflects a broader resurgence of the modern-day salon, a revival of a historical tradition where small groups gather to exchange ideas and meaningfully engage across perspectives. At a time when most conversations remain surface-level or fragmented, these salons create rare, intentional spaces to sit with complexity—where conversation itself becomes a form of experiential learning.
What People Say About Working With Me
“When my organization needed a fresh look at long-range strategic planning, Sam was my only call. As she always does, she used her superpowers of addressing the important inflection points with her incredible style of supportive, respectful, real talk. Sam identified and cleverly articulated our blind spots and what was holding us back, but in a way that people felt part of the team to plan and address these things and move to the next level. We are clear and confident about our future as an organization and with our potential to impact the industry.”
“I have had the pleasure of participating in several of Samantha’s unique and thoughtful salon experiences. Sam knows how to weave together the right materials and integrate participant inputs into an inspiring, and often moving, experience. From serious listening, somber reflection, to unbridled laughter, a salon with Samantha fits the bill for connection, exploration, and growth—a good fit for growing personal relationships and professional teams.”
“Working with Samantha transformed my organization…Samantha worked closely with our core team and myself to create a strategic plan that would embolden us and help us reach our full potential. With Samantha’s help I have adjusted my approach as a leader and our team has come together to ensure we will reach our goals.”